4y Springer. "Sprites, Elves and Intense Lightning Discharges" Martin Fullekrug. Eugene A. Mareev. Michael J. Rycroft. edited by

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1 "Sprites, Elves and Intense Lightning Discharges" edited by Martin Fullekrug Centre for Space Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Bath, United Kingdom Eugene A. Mareev Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation and Michael J. Rycroft CAESAR Consultancy, Cambridge, United Kingdom 4y Springer Published in cooperation with NATO Public Diplomacy Division

2 Contents Contributing Authors Preface xi xiii INTRODUCTION TO THE PHYSICS OF SPRITES, ELVES AND INTENSE LIGHTNING DISCHARGES 1 Michael J. Rycroft 1.1 Basic Properties of the Atmosphere Global Scale Variations (Horizontal Scale greater than 10 4 km) Regional Variations (Horizontal Scale between 30 and 300 km) Basic Theory of Electrical Phenomena Occurring in the Atmosphere Introduction The DC Global Atmospheric Electric Circuit The AC Circuit Thundercloud Charges and their Screening Spatial and Temporal Variations of the Global Circuit The Properties of Sprites, Elves and Intense Lightning Discharges Observations and their Interpretation - An Overview ELF Radiation by Sprites Summary of Observations Introduction to Theories and Numerical Modelling of Sprites Basic Physical Concepts Computer Modelling Results Conclusions \ 13 Acknowledgments 13 THE METEOROLOGY OF TRANSIENT LUMINOUS EVENTS- AN INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW 19 Walter A. Lyons 2.1 Introduction Scales of Atmospheric Motion Basic Concepts of Atmospheric Vertical Stability 21, Convective Cloud Nomenclature Observations of Convective Phenomema Conventional Convective Storm Monitoring Lightning Observation Techniques and Terminology A Brief History of TLE Observations Characteristics of TLE-Parent Lightning and Storms The Phenomenology of TLEs Convective Storm Types and TLEs Research Frontiers 41

3 vi SPRITES, ELVES AND INTENSE LIGHTNING DISCHARGES Importance Outstanding Research Questions 43 Acknowledgments 44 THE MICROPHYSICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF SPRITE- PRODUCING THUNDERSTORMS Earle Williams and Y. Yair Introduction The Non-inductive Charging Process in Thunderclouds Cloud Scale Charge Structure Possible with the Non-inductive Mechanism The Electrical Structure Inside Sprite-Producing Storms in Summertime The Electrical Structure inside Sprite-Producing Storms in Wintertime Gaps in Knowledge and Future Needs 73 Acknowledgments 74 GLOBAL THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY 85 Colin Price 4.1 The Earth's Energy Balance The General Circulation of the Atmosphere Frontal Thunderstorms in Mid-Latitude Regions Globa1 Observations of Lightning The Global Atmospheric Electric Circuit Future; Directions IMAGING SYSTEMS IN TLE RESEARCH Thomas H. Allin, T. Neubert and S. Laursen 5.1 Introduction to Low Light Imaging Optics Electronic Imaging Sensors Noise and Dynamic range Intensified versus Non-intensified Imaging Summary The Spritewatch Systems Event Conclusions The 2003 Spritewatch System Hardware in the 2003 system Software in the 2003 system Results from 2003 The 2004 Spritewatch System Hardware in the 2004 system * The 2004 Spritewatch Software Detection Summary Future work SPACECRAFT BASED STUDIES OF TRANSIENT LUMINOUS EVENTS 123 Stephen B. Mende, Y. S. Chang, A. B. Chen, H. U. Frey, H. Fukunishi, S. P. Geller, S. Harris, H. Heetderks, R. R. Hsu, L C. Lee, H. T.SuandY. Takahashi 6.1 Introduction 124

4 Contents vii 6.2 FORMOSAT-2 Satellite and the ISUAL Instrument The FORMOSAT-2 Satellite The ISUAL Imager The Spectrophotometer Data Interpretation of the Spectrophotometer The Array Photometers Initial Observations with ISUAL Summary 144 Acknowledgments 146 OBSERVATIONS OF SPRITES FROM SPACE AT THE NADIR: THE LSO (LIGHTNING AND SPRITE OBSERVATIONS) EXPERIMENT ON BOARD OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION 151 Elisabeth Blanc, T. Farges, D. Brebion, A. Labarthe and V. Melnikov 7.1 Introduction Spectral Differentiation of Sprite and Lightning Emissions Experiment Observations Perspectives 160 REMOTE SENSING OF THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE BY VLF 167 Craig J. Rodger and R. J. McCormick 8.1 Ionospheric Conductivity Sources of VLF Electromagnetic (EM) Waves Thunderstorms and Lightning Man-Made VLF Radiation VLF Propagation in the Earth-Ionosphere Waveguide Variations in Subionospheric Propagation TLE Associated Perturbations on VLF Transmissions Relaxation of High-Altitude Ionospheric Modifications Temperature Relaxation Ionization Relaxation Summary \ 183 MEASUREMENTS OF LIGHTNING PARAMETERS FROM REMOTE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS 191 Steven A. Cummer 9.1 Background and Motivation Remote Lightning Parameter Measurements Data Analysis Techniques Electromagnetic Field Modeling Data Inversion Summary 205 LOCATION AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF SPRITE-PRODUCING LIGHTNING FROM A SINGLE ELF SITE 211 Yasuhide Hobara, M. Hayakawa, E. Williams, R. Boldi and E. Downes 10.1 Introduction Lightning Activity Terrestrial ELF Electromagnetic Signals Sprites and Elves and Causative Lightning Properties Contents of this Chapter 214

5 viii SPRITES, ELVES AND INTENSE LIGHTNING DISCHARGES 10.2 Locating Distant ELF Sources and Quantifying their Electrical Properties Theory Global Map of Lightning by Rhode Island Station Winter TLEs and Associated Electromagnetic Phenomena in Japan Winter Thunderstorm Activity and TLEs in the Hokuriku Region ELF Radiation Associated with the Hokuriku TLEs and the Generation Condition of Winter Sprites Atmosphere-Mesosphere-Ionosphere Coupling Conclusion 228 Acknowledgments 229 CALIBRATED RADIANCE MEASUREMENTS WITH AN AIR-FILLED GLOW DISCHARGE TUBE: APPLICATION TO SPRITES IN THE MESOSPHERE 237 Earle Williams, M. Valente, E. Gerken and R. Golka 11.1 Introduction Methodology Optical Spectrum Radiance Response to Power and Current Density Estimates of Bulk Plasma Conductivity Application to Current Flow in Sprites Conclusion 247 Acknowledgments 247 THEORETICAL MODELING OF SPRITES AND JETS 253 Victor P. Pasko 12.1 Introduction Phenomenology of Sprites Phenomenology of Blue Jets, Blue Starters and Gigantic Jets Classification of Breakdown Mechanisms in Air 256? Concept of Electrical Breakdown Classification of Breakdown Mechanisms in Terms of pd Values Classification of Breakdown Mechanisms in Terms of Applied Electric Field Similarity Relations Physical Mechanism and Numerical Modeling of Sprites Large Scale Electrodynamics Altitude Structuring of Optical Emissions Large Scale Fractal Models of Sprites Modeling of Small-scale Sprite Streamer Processes and Photoionization Effects Optical Emissions Associated with Sprite Streamers Physical Mechanism and Numerical Modeling of Blue Jets, Blue Starters and Gigantic Jets Blue Jets as Streamer Coronas Thundercloud Charge and Current Systems Supporting Blue Jets, Blue Starters and Gigantic Jets Numerical Simulation of Blue Jets and Blue Starters Modeling of Optical Emissions from Blue Jets and Blue Starters 286

6 Contents ix 12.5 Unsolved Problems Relationship of Sprites and Jets touigh Air Pressure Leader Processes Initiation of Sprite Streamers in Low Applied Fields Propagation of Sprite Streamers Branching of Sprite Streamers Thermal Runaway Electrons in Streamer Tips in Sprites 292 Acknowledgments 293 ON THE MODELING OF SPRITES AND SPRITE-PRODUCING CLOUDS IN THE GLOBAL ELECTRIC CIRCUIT 313 Eugene A. Mareev, A. A. Evtushenko and S. A. Yashunin 13.1 Introduction Time-Dependent Electric Field in the Conducting Atmosphere Modeling of the Lower Positive Charge Layer in the Stratified Region Global Electric Circuit Implications Conclusion and Outlook for Promising Future Work 335 Acknowledgments 335 ACTUAL PROBLEMS OF THUNDERCLOUD ELECTRODYNAMICS 341 Victor Y. Trakhtengerts and Dmitry I. ludin 14.1 Introduction Electric Field Generation in an Atmospheric Convective Cell The Case of a Cylindrical Convective Cell Some Generalizations Dynamics of the Large-Scale Electric Field in a Convective Cloud Fine Structure of Electric Fields in a Thundercloud Multi-Flow Electrical Instability in a TC A Mechanism of Electric Field Fast Growth during the TC Mature Stage, Fractal Dynamics of Miiro-Discharges in a TC Acceleration of Relativistic Electrons during a Thunderstorm Runaway Breakdown in a Constant Electric Field Acceleration by Stochastic Electric Fields Conclusions 369 Acknowledgments 370 POSTER ABSTRACTS 377 T. Farges 15.1 Introduction Observations from the Ground Automated, Remote-Controlled Optical Observation Systems in TLE Research Observation of Schumann Resonance Transients at Nagycenk, Hungary Post Filtering of Unwanted Powerline and Lightning Effects in VLF, Infrasonic Signatures of Thunder On the Absorption of ELF Signals in the Earth-Ionosphere Waveguide 379

7 X SPRITES, ELVES AND INTENSE LIGHTNING DISCHARGES A Global Lightning Location Algorithm Based on Electromagnetic Signatures in the Schumann Resonance Band Neutral and Charged Particles at Low Latitudes. Is their Connection with Thunderstorms Possible? Sprites Observed over France on 23 July 2003 in Relation to their Parent Thunderstorm System Sprite Observations from Langmuir Laboratory, New Mexico VLF Signatures Associated with Sprites Stratospheric Electric Field, Magnetic Field and Conductivity Measurements Above Thunder- storms: Implications for Sprite Models Triggering of Positive Lightning and High-Altitude Atmospheric Discharges Observations from Space Transient Luminous Events Explored by the ROCSAT-2/ISUAL Instrument: Observation with the Array Photometer Fractal Analysis Method Applicability to Terrestrial Gamma- Ray Flashes Searching for Lightning-Induced Terrestrial Gamma Ray Bursts on CORONASF Satellite Seismo-electromagnetic Emissions First Results of Transient Luminous Event Observations by ISUAL Detection of Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes with the RHESSI Spacecraft ENVISAT Capabilities of Observing High Altitude Optical Phenomena Theoretical Modelling Do sprites Impact Climate? An atmospheric Coupling Approach The Sodankyla Ion Chemistry model: Application of Coupled Ion-neutral Chemistry Modelling Simulation of Streamer Propagation Using a PIC-MCC Code: Application to Sprite Ignition Characteristics of Transient Luminous Event Streamers in Weak Electric Fields Three-Dimensional Subionospheric VLF Electro- magnetic Field Scattering by a Highly Conducting Cylinder and Its Application to the Trimpi Effect Problem Changes of the Lower Ionospheric Electron Concentration due to Solar Cosmic Rays 394 Index 395